AFTERCARE
Traditional Aftercare: An absorbent bandage will be applied after a thin coat of vaseline is applied to the tattooed area. This bandage is to be left on overnight. The next day after your tattoo, please wash hands before removing bandage and wash tattooed area gently with just your hand, warm water and a mild soap (recommended soap Dr Bronners). Make sure that all vaseline and soap are cleaned away, then gently pat (do not rub) with a clean dry paper towel or clean towel. Let the tattoo air dry (about 10-15min) before applying a very thin coat of a non scented lotion or coconut oil. (do not use coconut oil that has been opened prior to use or used in the kitchen, it will be contaminated, I recommend using a clean utensil to get out coconut oil )
For the next 4-6 days gently wash your tattoo twice a day, morning and evening. Allow tattoo to dry (10 min) and apply a very thin layer of non scented lotion to the area. After 6 days only clean when showering and apply non scented lotion as needed (usually when its dry, itchy or tight feeling) until the tattoo is fully healed (2-4 weeks from your appt) Keep the tattoo lightly moisturized, you do not want to suffocate it as your tattoo needs to breath properly in order to heal well. Wear loose fitting clothing to allow tattoo to properly breath and always drink lots of water as this also hydrates your skin.
When healing your tattoo avoid: gyms, swimming and sun. When your tattoo is fully healed it will be safe to resume those activities and always wear sunscreen to unsure your tattoos look nice and bright over time.
Saniderm Bandage: An adhesive that is latex free, waterproof and breathable. It is not suited for people with sensitive skin or allergic to adhesives. Should you have a reaction to it, remove as soon as soon as possible. If no reaction happens I recommend leaving the original saniderm bandage on for up to 5 days. During this time there will be build up of fluid underneath the bandage, this is normal and to be expected and actually helps with the healing of your tattoo so dont freak out, its ugly but its good for your fresh tattoo! If the bandage leaks however, remove as soon as possible as bacteria can get in and cause an infection if not taken care of right away.
To remove saniderm bandage, it is best to do so while in the shower so you have a steady flow of water to the bandage. Apply a a drop of Dr. Bronners soap in your hand and gently wipe the bandage with soap and water. Find an area on the bandage that may be lifting and gently peel off bandage, I recommend keeping your bandage under the flow of water and to apply a small amount of soap to help take the bandage off easier. Do not peel off on dry skin as it will hurt and may cause unnecessary irritation to the surround skin.
If you need to reapply saniderm due to leakage:
Take off bandage per above instructions. Wash tattooed areas with warm water and Dr. Bronners soap. Wash gently with just your hand and be sure to rinse the area thoroughly as soap residue may cause irritation when saniderm is reapplied. Pat dry, do not rub, with a clean paper towel or clean towel. Let the tattoo dry for 15-20 minutes before reapplying saniderm. When cutting the bandage be sure to round the edges as this provides the best adhesion to the skin. Leave at least a 1 inch buffer area around the tattoo which will help with any liquid leaking. If needed you can overlap saniderm. Leave bandage on for 3-5 days. Once the 2nd bandage is removed or if you only had one bandage applied, see above for instructions on how to removed saniderm properly. After bandage is removed and washed properly, allow to dry 15-20 minutes before applying a thin layer of non scented lotion to the area whenever the tattoo feels dry/itchy/tight until it is healed (2-3 weeks after your appt) Also you can see more information about Saniderm here.
Should you have any questions about the healing of your tattoo, please do not hesitate to email me and please send images of the tattoo as that streamlines the process. ( kikibtattoos83@gmail.com)